Illinois vs. Penn State notebook: It's all about Paterno

John Supinie

Sunday

Sep 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 28, 2008 at 12:48 AM

From the cardboard cutout at the tailgatge party that serves as the best pregame photo op to the compound where students camp out for tickets outside Beaver Stadium (Paternoville) to the flavor of ice cream (Peachy Paterno) at the university creamery, Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno is Penn State football.

From the cardboard cutout at the tailgatge party that serves as the best pregame photo op to the compound where students camp out for tickets outside Beaver Stadium (Paternoville) to the flavor of ice cream (Peachy Paterno) at the university creamery, Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno is Penn State football.

The 81-year-old kept rolling along with the help of a motorized cart during practice last week leading up to the Big Ten Conference opener between No. 22 Illinois and No. 12 Penn State Saturday night. In the process, his toughness might serve as a motivator.

"He's a fighter,'' said Penn State wide receiver Deon Butler. "We know how bad he wants to be down on the sideline and how easily he could say, 'I'm going to sit up in the booth.' But he's right down there on the sidelines fighting with us, and that puts that little bit of extra fire under our belts to want to perform and do well.''

Paterno injured his right leg in practice earlier this month when he attempted an onside kick. Paterno strained his knee, and he hobbled on the sidelines during a blowout victory at Syracuse on Sept. 13.

By the time Penn State blew out Temple last weekend, Paterno sat in the press box for the second half. Riding in the golf cart allowed Paterno get his point across during the team's workouts last week, although he might have lost the element of surprise.

"If he has something to say to you, he'll just call you over and he'll let you know what he has to tell you,'' Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark said. "When he's not on a golf cart, he runs to you and he's all in your face.''

Paterno, who is in the final year of his contract, will apparently meet with university administration following the season.

This isn't the first time he's recently battled health issues. Paterno broke his left leg and suffered knee ligament damage after a sideline collision two years ago. He missed one game and sat in the coaches' booth in the press box for the final two games. Last May, he complained of dehydration and was taken to the hospital.

With Penn State's victory, Paterno leads Florida State's Bobby Bowden as the winningest coach in major college history with 377.

Tackling the challenge

After some bad tackling in the season's first three games, the Illini concentrated on the fundamentals during the bye week before getting prepared to play Penn State.

Coach Ron Zook limited the contact during preseason camp, when the Illini were hit with some nagging injuries.

But Illinois needed to get back to the basics.

"We've done more tackling drills in the last week than I've ever done in college,'' said Illini senior middle linebacker Brit Miller earlier last week. "We've put some emphasis on getting guys to the ground.''

Etc.

- Three of the eight Illini receivers who made the trip were freshmen. Fred Sykes, Cordale Scott and A.J. Jenkins were on the travel roster.

Sophomore wide receiver Alex Reavy, a Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin graduate, didn't make the trip despite being listed at No. 2 in the slot behind Arrelious Benn. Reavy has one catch for 10 yards this season.

- The Illinois-Penn State game was a reunion for several players. Illini defensive end Will Davis and cornerback Travon Bellamy were former teammates with Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. Illini defensive backs Vontae Davis and Nate Bussey and Benn were teammates with Penn State receiver James McDonald at Washington (D.C.) Dunbar.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

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